or flesh, or gude red-herring; - whoever has the stronger party has
Langcale.«
    Thus concluded the heavy narrative of honest Poundtext, who sighed deeply,
as he considered the danger in which he was placed betwixt unreasonable
adversaries amongst themselves and the common enemy from without. Morton
exhorted him to patience, temper, and composure; informed him of the good hope
he had of negotiating for peace and indemnity through means of Lord Evandale,
and made out to ham a very fair prospect that he should again return to his own
parchment-bound Calvin, his evening pipe of tobacco, and his noggin of inspiring
ale, providing always he would afford his effectual support and concurrence to
the measures which he (Morton) had taken for a general pacification.34 Thus
backed and comforted, Poundtext resolved magnanimously to await the coming of
the Cameronians to the general rendezvous.
    Burley and his confederates had drawn together a considerable body of these
sectaries, amounting to a hundred horse and about fifteen hundred foot, clouded
and severe in aspect, morose, and jealous in communication, haughty of heart,
and confident as men who believed that the pale of salvation was open for them
exclusively; while all other Christians, however slight were the shades of
difference of doctrine from their own, were in fact little better than outcasts
or reprobates. These men entered the Presbyterian camp, rather as dubious and
suspicious allies, or possibly antagonists, than as men who were heartily
embarked in the same cause, and exposed to the same dangers, with their more
moderate brethren in arms. Burley made no private visits to his colleagues, and
held no communication with them on the subject of the public affairs, otherwise
than by sending a dry invitation to them to attend a meeting of the general
council for that evening.
    On the arrival of Morton and Poundtext at the place of as sembly, they found
their brethren already seated. Slight greeting passed between them, and it was
easy to see that no amicable conference was intended by those who convoked the
council. The first question was put by Macbriar, the sharp eagerness of whose
zeal urged him to the van on all occasions. He desired to know by whose
authority the malignant, called Lord Evandale, had been freed from the doom of
death, justly denounced against him.
    »By my authority and Mr. Morton's,« replied Poundtext; who, besides being
anxious to give his companion a good opinion of his courage, confided heartily
in his support, and, moreover, had much less fear of encountering one of his own
profession, and who confined himself to the weapons of